Established in 1978, the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a conservative policy think tank, the publisher of City Journal, and a network of emerging leaders (scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders). Originally named the International Center for Economic Policy Studies, it adopted its current name in 1981. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Manhattan Institute is funded through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
The Institute's mission is "to advance opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its cities." It focuses on several policy areas:
- Cities: Improving the quality of life in urban centers, with a particular focus on the problem of urban violence and the need for public-sector reform.
- Culture: Providing solutions to overcome cultural divides and counteract ethnic and cultural divides.
- Economics: Advocating for free-market principles and economic choice.
- Education: Promoting education reform, including school choice and charter schools.
- Energy: Supporting energy policies that encourage innovation and market-based solutions.
- Governance: Encouraging effective governance through public-sector reform and accountability.
- Health: Advocating for healthcare policies that increase choice and efficiency.
- Public Safety: Addressing issues related to policing, crime reduction, and criminal justice reform.
City Journal is a national urban-policy magazine. Its original journalism focuses on public-policy concerns.
The Adam Smith Society connects its members with business, policy, and thought leaders to explore pressing challenges and civil society’s role in addressing them. There are chapters on top Master of Business Administration (MBA) university campuses, to connect a national network of rising business leaders (the Smith Society)
Examples of recent work by the Institute:
- “How Microcredentials Are Revolutionizing the Higher-Education Business Model” (February 2025): Issues report covering disruptions to the higher-education business model, why microcredentials are for four-year institutions too, state incubators of the microcredential marketplace, how states promote economic opportunity through microcredentials, how states can protect the quality of microcredentials, and how trustees can integrate microcredentials.
- "Retooling Metropolis" (2016): A report discussing innovative approaches to urban policy and infrastructure.
- "The War on Cops" by Heather Mac Donald (2016): A book examining the challenges facing law enforcement and public safety in the context of contemporary debates.
- "The Next Urban Renaissance" (2015): A publication exploring strategies for revitalizing American cities.
Resources
City Journal Homepage
